What’s Your Décor Style?

August 06, 2018

We know what we like and what we don’t when it comes to interior design. The problem comes when we try to put it all together. The individual pieces we enjoy are great but it can be difficult to integrate them into a single look that looks cohesive. One way to make sure the items you select look as great at your house as in the store is to build your home’s décor around a particular style of interior design. Once you find the design style that works best for you, it will be easier for to find other items that add rather than distract from your look. Fortunately, at Gift Giving All Wrapped Up we have a broad range of figurines so there are great options to go with any style of décor.

Traditional

What we consider Traditional décor actually covers a wide range of history. It can combine furnishings from the 18th and 19th century to build a look that is filled with history and style. Symmetry and the classic lines of furniture and accessories help to set the tone. Colours are usually in muted mid-tones with an emphasis on simple florals, solid colours, stripes, or plaids. Rich mid or dark coloured wooden furniture and hardwood floors add shine and clean lines. Area rugs and tapestries can be used to add texture, warmth, and make rooms more comfortable and inviting.

Arts and Crafts

Between 1910 and the mid-1920s Arts and Crafts architecture and furnishings became popular. This style of décor emphasized clean, simple forms without much extraneous decoration. Arts and Crafts played tribute to the workmanship necessary to create works so often design elements showed the method of construction. Frank Lloyd-Wright is probably the best-known leader of this style of architecture. He often combined the elements of the natural world with his designs so that the buildings worked as part of their surroundings. Wood, stone, and other natural materials are often used.

Art Deco

From around 1920s, into the 1930s, Art Deco was extremely popular in the decorative arts as well as interior design and architecture. It featured streamline styles, rounded corners, and geometric forms. It borrowed heavily from different cultures, particularly paying tribute to African and Egyptian motifs. Exotic materials were highlighted like different types of wood and semi-precious stones. The influence of the industrial revolution was strongly stressed. That added touches of metal into furniture design. Sunburst and graduated steps were common design themes as were curved or angular shapes. Gold, white, and black were used extensively.

Mid-Century Modern

Thanks to a recent assortment of period television shows and movies there has been a recent renewed interest in Mid-Century Modern designs. From the Rat Pack to today’s Mad Men, there was a smooth style, clean lines, and bright colours. During the 1950s and 1960s this style had a huge impact on building designs, furniture, and interior decorations. Rich colours like orange, yellow, olive green, and chocolate brown were popular. Now-classic elements of Mid-Century design include egg-shaped chairs and rounded or angular elements. Colourful textiles and carpets added bold statements to the clean lines of the furniture. Open staircase designs were popular, particularly thanks to the television show The Brady Bunch. Avocado green and marigold yellow were often used for kitchen appliances and design elements. Rich woods and brick elements were used extensively.

Coastal

There is something that continues to call people to the ocean. Coastal style plays tribute to the seashore. There are variations on this Coastal style that reflect local seaside areas like the Hamptons and Hawaii. These incorporate local elements along with the more general elements that are part of Coastal décor.

Coastal décor is inspired by the ocean and beach-side locations. Bright and airy is the goal of this look. Nautical-related images like anchors and ships and beach-themed accessories are popular. Coastal colours include plenty of ocean blues, greens, white, and light, sand-coloured wood. Lighthouses, navy blues, and reds reflect certain coastal regions as do bold blue and white stripes. Other Coastal styles could emphasize more tropical locations with palm trees, hibiscus flowers, and surf boards. Positive messages can help to reinforce the upbeat and relaxed theme. Images of the seashore fit well as do characters from ocean-related movies like Lilo & Stitch and the Little Mermaid. Soft fabrics and slightly rustic beach imagery can help the overall design feel inviting and homey.

Tiki is a related décor to Coastal. It combines the ocean theme with a mid-Century style of architecture that brings in Polynesian and/or Asian details. Moai and Tikis can be added along with thatched details and accessories that are related to tropical mixed drinks.

Asian

The western world has long had a fascination with Asian cultures and décor. There have been a number of revivals of Asian interior design themes which have had their own take on Asian décor. There is also a great variety of cultures and time periods that can be sampled from in order to create an Asian-inspired look but there are a few common elements. Inspired by traditional décor in China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam, Asian décor fuses elements from nature with a clean, bright look. Bamboo, rice paper, sliding doors, window screens, and pale woods are combined with elements in white with red accents to build a peaceful setting. Lacquered furniture and accessories are popular as are brightly-coloured accessories.

English Country

The look of English Country interior design isn’t just for tea with the Queen. This classic style uses lush patterns and finely detailed wooden furniture to create a look that is both formal and welcoming. Flowers like roses are very popular as are overstuffed sofas. Antique and skirted furniture help to contribute to the overall look. Don’t forget to add a large number of pillows, rugs, and small decorative accessories. You want a look with plenty of style that is still welcoming.

Country

Country is more rustic than English country but it still has its own elegance. Rather than the medium and dark wood colours popular in English Country, this type of Country style uses white panelling and whitewashed walls. Soft floral patterns and stripes are popular elements. This style plays tribute to traditional farm house and rural images while elevating them to a more elegant and sophisticated look. Hand-forged metal elements can be added. A focal point could be a wall covered in old barn wood or reproductions of old farm-related signs. Check yard sales and antique markets for pieces to add in order to bring your look together. New furniture can be distressed to help it fit into your Country interior design. The clean look and hand painted style of Willow Tree figurines can be a great addition to Country, English Country, Traditional, or Eclectic décor.

Contemporary

Contemporary and Modern design is currently the most common trend in new housing. It features clean lines and muted neutral colours for walls, furniture, and cabinetry. Grey, white, and light earth tones are commonly used with occasional bits of bold colour provided by accessories. This type of décor features streamlined furniture shapes and clean, simple cabinets and furniture pulls. Flare can be added with larger graphic artwork or interesting accessories. Figurines like those from our The World of Miss Mindy Presents Disney range can add the elements of interest that keep a modern home from looking generic. Brightly-coloured pillows can provide an inviting touch to neutral coloured couches and can even be swapped out seasonally to keep décor looking fresh. Luxurious touches like decorative tile in patterns or colours can elevate Modern décor to the next level.

Eclectic

This style is often considered a mix to styles but it still needs to maintain balance in order to look like a cohesive style. It combines elements from other design styles and has a bit of whimsy to form a fun and inviting atmosphere. While this combination of styles could seem to be the easiest approach to design, it actually requires a good sense of design to combine a variety of elements into décor that looks like it belongs together. To do this, it is important to pick a strategy for combining elements. This could be by selecting a colour plan to work within, to maintain a fairly clean lines with only a few eclectic elements or by picking particular shapes or patterns to emphasize. By adding design elements that fit that plan, a wide range of different items can be combined to form a single look.

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